Yoga: Step – by – Step
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YOGA: STEP – BY – STEP THIS IS A SERIES OF FIFTY – TWO LESSONS ON THE PHILOSPOPHY AND PRACTICE OF YOGA WHICH INCLUDES INSTRUCTIONS IN ASANAS, KRIYAS, MUDRAS, HATHA YOGA, JNANA YOGA RELAXATION AND THE SCIENCE OF PRANAYAMA. THE FIRST STAGES OF THE ANTARANGA YOGA OF PATANJALI ARE DEALT WITH BY THE AUTHOR AND PARTICULARLY THE EARLY KRIYAS OF PRATYAHARA, SENSE WITHDRAWAL AND THE HIGHER KRIYAS AND PRAKRIYAS OF JNANA YOGA AND RAJA YOGA INCLUDING THE HIGHLY RESPECTED TECHNIQUE OF THE HANG SAH KRIYA AND THE ORIGINAL RISHI CULTURE CONCEPT AND TEACHINGS OF CHETTINA NIDRA, NOW POPULARLY CALLED YOGA NIDRA, YOGA PSYCHIC SLEEP. THESE LESSONS ARE IN SEQUENCE AND YOGA NIDRA, YOGA PSYCHIC SLEEP. THESE LESSONS ARE IN SEQUENCE AND WERE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AS A CORRESPONDENCE COURSE IN YOGA, BUT THEN GREATLY EXPANDED INTO FOUR VOLUMES ENTITLED: VOL. I How to Begin a Practice of Yoga VOL.II Yoga – Intermediate Practices VOL.III Advanced Yoga Practices VOL.IV Senior Yoga Practices. These lessons are intended to be studied lesson by lesson, absorbed and learned before going on to the next lesson. In no sense is this a book to be read for the sake of reading, or to pick out some postures which one wishes to do for the sake of doing some Asanas alone. This author would be happier if you reached for some lesser-known work on Yoga if all you want to do is learn a couple of Yoga exercises—twists and jerks. This course of Yoga tuition offers a step-by-step guidance to anyone who is ready for real Rishiculture Yoga and can be followed up with numerous courses that are also available but only after these courses are studied, step – by-step. BY YOGARISHI DR. SWAMI GITANANDA GIRI, ACHARYA, YOGA JIVANA SATSANGHA (INTERNATIONAL), PRESIDENT, VISHWA YOGA SAMAJ (WORLD YOGA CONGRESS), FOUNDING MEMBER AND PATRON OF INDIAN ACADEMY OF YOGA (BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY UP,) Dedication and Acknowledgement This author has had serious reservations about publishing any of the material entrusted to him by his Guru as all of this material was passed to him by a mouth – to – ear system, and oral system that is still the only system by which Yoga can be properly learned today. Yoga is not a visual science, and cannot be taught by visual means, no matter how good the teacher or the intentions of the well-meaning instructor. There is no substitute for a Guru and if there were, it would never be a “Kitab Guru …… Book Guru”. I have written this work after seeing so many books virtually insulted the base of real study of Yoga. In some cases, these books virtually insulted the base of Yoga as the SCIENCE OF SCIENCE, the only science of spirituality that can lead a human aspirant to enlightenment and the “At-One-Ment” with the Universal Self. With all humility and with the deepest of respect to my teachers I wish to dedicate this material which has been entrusted to me by that long line of Paramparya or Spiritual Masters without a break, who have made this life such a pleasant Yoga Life… and I hope that these “step-by-step teachings” will add a new dimension to the life of those who take up this Yoga Life step-by-step. Where I have erred may I be Karmically forgiven and where I have added some modern scientific terms it has only been to be able to help the scientifically-minded and those educated along this line. For those needing a philosophical and scientific explanation for the Kriyas and Prakriyas, this single volume will greatly help. For those needing a spiritual insight into the teachings of the way of life in which they have been raised, may this elevate your thinking into Christ Consciousness, the Buddhic splendour…. the Yogic Cosmic Consciousness. I would be remiss if I failed to offer my life once again to the service of that great Guru in the tradition of the Rishi Brighu, Dr.Swami Kanakananda Bhrigu, to Sri Akanda Paripurna Satchidananda Satguru Srila Sri Kambli Gnana Desiga Swmigal, and Sri La Sri Peedathiapathy Shakaragiri Swamigal, the Gurus to whom I own everything I know, am have, or am able to offer to you, and the long line of Gurus, from which we are descended and to you the reader whose life will surely be blessed by this study and application of Yoga. YOGA: STEP – BY – STEP How to Begin a Practice of Yoga – PART 1 A Course in Yoga Tuition with Step – by – Step Guidance in the Preliminary Practices of Hatha Yoga Asanas, Kriyas and Mudras and Beginning Pranayamas that Form a Basis of Classical Rishi Culture Yoga. BY YOGARISHI DR. SWAMI GITANANDA It has often been said that Yoga should not be practised except under the direct guidance of a Guru. This is certainly true of more intricate, higher phases of Yoga, but there are certain aspects of Yoga which can be learned through the printed word and by photos and diagrams. Yoga philosophy and psychology, hygiene and diet, instructions in Pranayama and basic Asanas plus encouragement to embark upon the Yogic Path are all areas of learning that can be passed along by the written word. The written word is never a substitute for direct contact with a Yoga Guru and study in his presence, but there are few today who can afford the time and the cost of travel to have the rich blessing of the Guru’s presence or to live in his Ashram. The “Book Guru” has become the means of teaching for millions around the world, and some students are able to gain a good deal of benefit. Even the student privileged to study at “the feet of the Master” often needs to take copious notes to be reminded of the suggestions made. This note – taking can be a great deterrent to real learning and often the notebook is “ realized “ but the student misses out. Written material, parallel to the teachings of a Guru, therefore can augment the study and practice of Yoga and be source of rich “remembering” of the material earlier presented. It may also clear up any doubts as to techniques which are found difficult to remember at the time. It was with this thought in mind that I embarked upon a simple presentation of some of the material which I teach in my regular Yoga Teachers Training Course presented each year from October 1 st through March 31 st of the following year. I once had serious misgivings about putting Yoga down in print, but I have found that many have benefited, particularly those who have been in personal contact with me and find the teachings accurately represent the oral tradition, Paramparam, out of which I teach. Many students who have heard me lecture or speak on Yoga write to tell me that they can actually hear me speaking as they read the words of instruction on the various aspects of the course. This intimacy alone justifies the production of such a Yoga model of instruction. I myself learned in a totally different manner. My Guru had the attitude that one must listen and absorb. We were never allowed to ask a question about techniques that we had been taught, although we were encouraged to ask questions in general. If I missed a point and queried that point, he would ask me to sit down and think, “remember”, and see if the material would re-present itself to my mind in memory form. In this way I developed a photographic – cum – photogenic memory that has been the greatest single boon to my life along with the good health that I have. I encourage my own students to “listen”. Modern students “hear” but they don’t listen”, possibly because of the high incidence of sound in the modern world and the modern hang-ups that in clued” not listening to the voice of authority”. I have had students who have wept at my feet because they have lost the ability to “listen” even to the voice of the Guru, and now rue the day they took to an” a – Yogic “ path. If “ Yoga is skill in action”, as quoted by Sri Krishna in BHAGAVAD GITA, it means we must also become skillful with our senses, our talents and our other mental and physical faculties. If the printed word does help in gaining this skill, then the method is doubly justified. Still, the onus is on the student and every effort must be made to learn as much as possible and gain personal benefits. The book may be the source material, and a place to check and re-check methods and techniques, but it must never replace actual learning and absorbing. This is particularly true if the student wishes later to convey this material through teachings to another. The written word does help make sure that the teaching is conveyed correctly and without error. I originally began the lessons as a weekly series to cover a year of Yoga learning practice. Presently, fifty –two lessons are available, but it could easily be extended by another fifty –two weeks, and I hope to do this some time in the not – too – distant – future. Many people desired a permanent record of their lessons, so we bound up each series of thirteen lessons into a handsome volume with a dust jacket. Vol. 1, we entitled HOW TO BEGIN A PRACTICE OF YOGA; Volume II was entitled YOGA – INTERMEDIATE PRACTICES; Volume III, ADVANCED YOGA PRACTICES; and Volume IV was entitled SENIOR YOGA PRACTICES.